This overview will help you choose a regulator to work with Samovar.
All the regulators presented below are output voltage stabilizers. They deliver a stabilized voltage at the output regardless of mains surges. They are not step-up devices. Stabilization happens only if the output voltage is lower than the input voltage. They can work as standalone devices.
Attention.
In this overview, the positive and negative features of the regulators are considered solely in terms of working with Samovar.
A stabilizer based on an Arduino microcontroller. You can build it yourself if you have the components and skills in assembling and/or repairing electronic devices. Manual control - an encoder. Display: 0.96-inch LCD
A ready-made device can be purchased. The form factor, equipment, warranty and other terms are agreed individually with the manufacturer.
The source code is written in assembly language, is open and available for you to modify yourself.
Pros:
- Fast start, output voltage stabilization. Down to 0.1 volt
- Manual control with an encoder with a button. Adjustment step 0.5 volt
- Easy-to-read display.
- Voltage stabilization indication.
- The ability to manually preset the stabilization voltage that the regulator will switch to after the "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») command is executed.
- Control via UART or I2C
- Repairability and the ability to update the program as new versions come out. The ability to install alternative firmware with a port speed of 9600 baud (38400 baud by default)
- Control of the boost heating element through a separate power relay.
- A connector for the external "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») command
- A connector for the external "Emergency" («Авария») command
- Smooth application of voltage to the load at start and smooth removal when switching off.
Cons:
- All elements of the regulator are at high voltage.
- To replace the program, you may have to remove the microcontroller from the regulator.
- The preset stabilization voltage is not saved in the device memory on power-off or reboot.
- Repair and flashing require special skills.
A stabilizer built in a 2DIN enclosure with DIN-rail mounting. Manual control and setup — with buttons. Information display: a three-digit indicator. It cannot be built yourself.
The stabilizer is on sale in 6 versions and 5 configurations. (at the time of writing the overview).
Attention! Only versions 5 and 6 are suitable for working with Samovar over UART.
Pros:
- Service life of the product — 10 years.
- 6-month warranty
- Voltage holding stability 1 Volt. Adjustment step 1 volt
- Memory for 10 preset values
- Heating element resistance is saved in memory for power calculation
- Voltmeter calibration
- It can be switched to display readings in watts.
- Control from Samovar over UART (versions 5 and 6 only).
- A connector for the external "Emergency" («Авария») command (present on version 3 and higher).
- A connector for the external "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») command (present on version 4 and higher).
Cons:
- In case of repair, special skills and equipment are required.
- All elements of the regulator are at high voltage.
- The firmware cannot be updated
- If the regulator is used as a standalone unit, an additional power source is needed to use the "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») and "Emergency" («Авария») functions (a 9 V "Krona" battery is enough)
- Complex manual programming and entering values into memory.
- Manual control quirks (for example, to lower the voltage you first have to raise it by 1 volt, and only then lower it).
You can buy the regulator from the developer through a support forum thread (the regulator only, without the triac, etc.)
Buy it fully assembled in a box, ready to connect the heating element and work, in the online store (there you can also buy a kit of components for self-assembly).
A simple stabilized heating element power regulator made from Chinese modules
A stabilizer based on an Arduino microcontroller. Control with buttons. Display: 0.96-inch LCD. You can build it yourself with minimal soldering skills. Not on sale.
The source code is written in C++, is open and can be modified yourself with the Arduino IDE.
Pros:
- Simple assembly from ready-made modules.
- Fully repairable.
- Control from Samovar over UART
- The ability to update the program, open source code.
- All elements of the regulator are at safe voltage, except the power ones.
- It can be connected to Samovar without voltage isolation (the voltage on the Arduino NANO and the ESP32 must be matched).
- External "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») connector
- External "Emergency" («Авария») connector
- Voltmeter calibration
- The ability to preset and store in memory the output power value that the regulator will switch to after the "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») command is executed.
- The nominal heating element power is saved in memory.
Cons:
- A relatively long start of the original firmware when working with Samovar. It is recommended to use the modified firmware supplied with the Samovar sketch.
RM regulator (RM2M, RM2M-Pro)
A stabilizer built in a 3DIN enclosure with DIN-rail mounting. Manual control and setup — with buttons. Information display: a three-digit indicator. It cannot be built yourself.
The stabilizer is on sale from various manufacturers. Accordingly, the equipment and warranty differ for each. You can buy either the stabilizer alone (without the triac etc.) or a complete device ready for work.
Pros:
- Stability of holding the set voltage: plus or minus 1 Volt.
- Adjustment step 1 volt
- Indication of the power consumed by the load: from 0 to 9.99 kW.
- Memory for 10 voltage presets.
- Built-in voltage-time timer: from 0 to 999 minutes.
- Needs no additional power source when using the "Stop Boost" («Стоп разгон») and "Emergency" («Авария») functions
Cons:
- There is no control channel.
- Complex programming and entering values into memory.
Conclusions.
For use with Samovar, the first three regulators are recommended. Provided that UART control is used, Samovar will control the regulator completely: from starting the boost, to changing the voltage at any moment and switching heating off.
The ability of emergency shutdown from a third-party device can be used as an option. For example, when using Samovar with a PVK (steam-jacketed boiler), to switch heating off if the pressure in the steam-water jacket is exceeded. An electrical contact pressure gauge can be used as the sensor.
The KVICregulator. Convenient manual control; the adjustment step of 0.5 volt lets you bring the column to the pre-flooding mode quite precisely and hold it in that state for a long time. But only an experienced electronics engineer can build it.
The RMV-kregulator.
A stably working device with quite a wide choice of configurations. Reliable; as far as is known, there are practically no complaints. When connected to Samovar over UART it is convenient and simple to control. You can buy a box completely ready for work together with the "Stop Boost" («Стоп Разгон») and "Emergency" («Авария») sensors. The sensors can be used when the regulator works standalone and are a KSD9700 bimetallic thermostat. When connected to Samovar, the "Stop Boost" sensor is not used, since the connector is used for the data exchange line - accordingly Samovar controls the "Stop Boost" mode itself. The "Emergency" sensor can be used as a standalone option. The sensors are not suitable for use in Samovar, but can be used as components when building an additional line of protection.
The Stab-avr regulator is not inferior to it either. The ability to build and repair it yourself makes it very attractive. A feature of this regulator is that the power setting is displayed in watts (and not in volts, as with the regulators reviewed above).
The adjustment step is 1/200 of the heating element rating. Due to the way power is set, the actual value may differ slightly from the one set by Samovar (for example, 1803 W instead of 1800). This is absolutely not critical.
All the advantages of the RM (RM2M, RM2M-Pro) regulators are cancelled out by one big drawback. It is the lack of UART communication. And therefore the impossibility of setting the voltage on the regulator "from outside". The stabilization voltage can only be set manually.
When working with the RM, Samovar can only switch the regulator on/off and switch Boost on/off. Because this regulator provides no other ways of control from third-party devices.
Recommendations.
If you have even a little experience with a soldering iron, it makes sense to build the regulator Stab-avr.
If you have serious doubts about your own abilities or no time, it makes sense to buy the regulator RMV-k fully assembled.
